Steve Borthwick’s sons could end up facing England in shock twist

Tuesday, 11 February 2025 at 06:57

byRugby Rucker

Steve Borthwick, the head coach of England’s men’s rugby team, has spent years shaping the national squad—but in the future, he could find himself coaching against his own sons.

Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!

From England captain to honeymoon heartbreak

Borthwick, a former England captain, has had his fair share of dramatic moments in his rugby career. One of the toughest? Finding out he was no longer skipper—while on his honeymoon.

“You’re talking to the man who got dropped from the England captaincy when he was on honeymoon,” Borthwick recalled.

“I’m walking down the beach in Bali with my wife, and I get a phone call from [then-head coach] Martin Johnson saying, ‘Hey Steve, you’re no longer England captain. Actually, you’re no longer in the England squad.’”

Meet the Borthwick boys: Hunter and Chase

Steve and his wife, Australian physiotherapist Beth Borthwick, have two sons—Hunter and Chase.

Beth, who has worked as a physiotherapist and clinic director at Six Physio in London, has clearly had an influence on their sporting interests.

Borthwick shared a hilarious story about Hunter, who was nine at the time, in an interview with The Guardian back in 2022:

“Hunter came running towards me carrying a ball in his hand. I thought: ‘He’s going to give me this great big hug, it’s going to be a heartwarming moment.’

"Instead, he ran straight past me, dived on the floor on the far side of the living room, and said: ‘I just scored the winning try, Daddy.’

"Brilliant. One problem was I missed out on my hug. The other was he was wearing a Wallabies shirt. His mother’s to blame for that.”

Could one of the Borthwick boys end up pulling on a gold jersey instead of a white one? Stranger things have happened in rugby.

Supercomputer predicts the next round of the Six Nations, including England vs Scotland

Based on recent form, historical trends, and a touch of algorithmic magic, here’s what to expect in Round 3 according to Sports4Cast.

Wales vs Ireland – Saturday, 22 February (14:15 GMT)

Location: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Supercomputer Prediction: Ireland win (87%)
Predicted Score: Wales 10-35 Ireland

Wales’ Six Nations woes are set to continue, with the supercomputer heavily backing Ireland to claim victory in Cardiff.

Warren Gatland’s side has struggled, having lost to both Scotland and Italy, while Simon Easterby's men are in ruthless form after dispatching England and Scotland. With Grand Slam ambitions still alive, expect Ireland to dominate.

England vs Scotland – Saturday, 22 February (16:45 GMT)

Location: Twickenham, London
Supercomputer Prediction: England win (61%)
Predicted Score: England 23-19 Scotland

The Calcutta Cup always delivers drama, and this clash at Twickenham is expected to be no different. England’s dramatic last-gasp victory over France last time out has boosted confidence, while Scotland will be eager to bounce back after their home defeat to Ireland.

The supercomputer sees this one as a tight contest, but ultimately, England are tipped to edge it in front of their home crowd.

Italy vs France – Sunday, 23 February (15:00 GMT)

Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Supercomputer Prediction: France win (80%)
Predicted Score: Italy 12-31 France

Italy’s victory over Wales may have given them some confidence, but the supercomputer predicts a return to reality against France.

Despite their shock defeat to England, Les Bleus remain a formidable side and are expected to overpower the Azzurri in Rome. The visitors will be looking to get their campaign back on track with a convincing win.

Latest Six Nations Results:

Italy 22-15 Wales – A shock win for the Azzurri in Rome
England 26-25 France – A thriller at Twickenham, sealed in the dying moments
Ireland 32-18 Scotland – Irish dominance continues at Murrayfield